Ladder attachment for paint can



June 3,1958 A P. g. ELM 2,837,306

I I LADDER ATTACHMENT F53 PAINT cAN Filed Dec. 16, 1954 Pau/E. E/m' INVENTOR.

Fig. 3

United States Patent LADDER ATTACI-EIENT FOR PAINT CAN Paul E. Elm, Watsonville, Calif.

Application December 16, 1954, Serial No. 475,799

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-210) This invention relates to an attachment for a ladder for use by painters, decorators and other tradesmen in supporting paint cans, pails, buckets or the like in a convenient manner.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a ladder attachment capable of supporting a paint can which is capable of being easily and securely attached to a ladder at a selected height in a manner so as to embrace one of the rails of the ladder and overlie one of the steps thereof while maintaining the tray portion of the ladder attachment disposed at one side of the ladder so as not to enterfere or provide an encumberance to anyone walking up or down the ladder.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a ladder attachment for paint cans or the like capable of being formed or bent out of suitable sheet metal and which not only enables the ready attachment to a ladder, but rigidifies and braces the tray portion of the ladder attachment.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a ladder attachment for paint cans and the like that is simple in construction, highly eflicient in use, and capable of being inexpensively produced, thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this ladder attachment, 2. preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ladder attachment comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the ladder attachment; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 33 in Figure 1 and being shown in an enlarged scale.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates the ladder attachment for use in supporting paint cans and the like comprising the present invention. The ladder attachment 10 is adapted to be associated with a ladder 12 and is engageable with a rail 14 of the ladder 12 as well as with a step 16.

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The ladder attachment 10 includes a tray 18 formed of a base 20 having a peripheral flange 22. A plate 24 is welded or otherwise secured to the peripheral flange 22 along one side thereof and terminates at the midpoint of the side of the peripheral flange 22. Secured to the plate 24 which extends down below the lowermost edge of the peripheral flange 22 is a substantially L-shaped lower strap 26. The strap 26 has an end portion 28 welded or otherwise attached to the plate 24 and the other portion of the lower strap 26 extends transversely of the tray 18 and is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom surface of the base 20 to thereby reinforce and support the tray 18.

Preferably integrally formed with the plate 24 is an upper strap 30 of substantially L-shape which in conjunction with the plate 24 is adapted to form a U-shaped structiue for embracing the rail 14. Integrally formed with the strap 30 is a horizontal flange 32 which has a vertical flange 34 depending downwardly from one end thereof. The flange 32 is adaptedto overlie the step 14 with the flange 34 engaging the rear surface of the step 16.

In use, a paint can or bucket of any suitable weight may be placed within the peripheral flange 22 of the tray 18 and be suitably supported on the tray 18. The weight of the paint can will cause the downwardly extending portion of the plate 24 to abut the outer surface of the rail 14, while the upper strap 30 will likewise abut the inner surface of the rail 14. This will maintain the ladder attachment securely on the ladder.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the in vention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A ladder attachment comprising a tray, a plate attached to said tray and having a lower strap secured to said plate and secured to and underlying said tray, said plate having an upper strap of substantially L-shape for embracing a rail of a ladder, said upper strap having a horizontal flange for overlying the step of a ladder, and a vertical flange depending from one end of said horizontal flange for engaging the rear surface of a step of said stepladder, said lower strap extending transversely of said tray beneath the midportion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,221 Myers May 15, 1923 1,862,701 Moelter et al June 14, 1932 2,051,060 Upthegrove Sept. 19, 1933 2,086,280 Matter July 6, 1937 2,541,390 Weigand Feb. 13, 1951 

